Oahu showed the least severe annual drop-off in light-vehicle registrations in 2009 of all the major islands, according to Hawaii Auto Outlook.

In a year in which sales slumped 21.4 percent for the state, Oahu registrations fell 16.8 percent to 25,651 from 30,847. Kauai fell 25.3 percent to 1,451 from 1,942, the Big Island decreased 33.2 percent to 3,531 from 5,287 and Maui fell 36.4 percent to 3,006 from 4,728.

Statewide, sales fell to 33,639 from 42,804.

Nationwide, sales decreased 21.5 percent.

» Subaru showed a 32.5 percent sales gain in Hawaii—the largest of any automaker—in the second half of 2009 compared with a year ago, according to Hawaii Auto Outlook.

» Fiat SpA, the Italian carmaker that helped Chrysler Group LLC emerge from bankruptcy, may wait to turn around the U.S. business before deciding on a share sale or spinoff for its automotive division. The Italian company's stock has risen 19 percent this month on speculation that Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne may carve out Fiat's biggest unit as a new company. A separation of the auto manufacturing operations would give Marchionne an entity to facilitate future alliances.